Self centering seed shoe for double disk furrow opener

ABSTRACT

A furrow opener assembly for a planter includes a pair of forwardly converging disks and a self-centering furrow forming runner mounted between the disks to smooth the dirt passing between the disks, and to form a furrow in which seed is deposited. The runner is mounted for lateral pivoting between the inner faces of the disks and is secured to the frame between the disks by means which is removable from the rear without disturbing the disks.

[151 3,658,018 [451 Apr. 25, 1972 United States Patent ConnorTunniclifl............................

[54] SELF CENTERI NG SEED SHOE FOR ...l72/575 .......l72/558 X 799,0229/1905 DOUBLE 951,741 3/ 1910 Pamson et al.

Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey [72] Inventor: Donald E. Connor,Plainfield, 111.

A '1' 1E --t [73] Assignee: International Harvester Company, i gsg ggggigggg Penegnno Chicago, Ill.

ABSTRACT 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS Conner et a].

PATENTED APR 2 5 I972 SHEET 1 [1F 2 INVE N TOR DONALD E. CONNOR PATENTEDAPR 25 1972 SHEET 2 UF 2 INVENTOR DONALD E. CONNOR SELF CENTERING SEEDSHOE FOR DOUBLE DISK FURROW OPENER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to planters and particularly to double disk furrowopeners. More specifically, the invention concerns a runner attachmentfor a double disk furrow opener and means for mounting the runnerbetween the disks.

It is known to mount a runner opener between the disks of a double diskfurrow opener. A portion of the planter frame extends downwardly betweenthe disks and the disks are mounted thereon to revolve on forwardly andoutwardly directed axes so that the disks converge in the direction oftravel and open a furrow in the ground. Depending on the kind of seedand the soil conditions it is frequently desirable for better control ofthe placement of seed in the furrow to attach a runner to the planterframe between the diverging rear portions of the disks to form a furrowand to guide the seed into it.

One of the principal disadvantages of previous double disk and runnercombinations has been the tendency of the runner to become wedged to oneside against the inner face of one or the other of the disks. Anotherdisadvantage resided in the fact that to attach or remove the runnerrequired the removal of at least one of the disks to expose theattaching means.

An important object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide arunner for a double disk furrow opener wherein the runner is free toswing laterally about a horizontal longitudinal axis and is thusself-centering and will not bind against the disks.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means formounting a runner between the disks whereby the runner can be easily andquickly inserted between the diverging rear edges of the disks andattached to the frame and as easily removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a double disk andrunner furrow opener assembly, of a novel runner construction wherein,in addition to pivotally mounting the runner for lateral swinging abouta longitudinal horizontal axis between the disks, the forward portion ofthe runner has an upwardly angled base portion shaped to conformgenerally to the angle of convergence of the disks and the runnermounting includes means by which the runner is pivotable about avertical axis into scraping relation of said base portion with the innerfaces of the disks to strip moist dirt therefrom and prevent build-up ofdirt between the disks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typicalplanter unit showing the double disk and runner furrow opener assemblywith which the present invention is concerned;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the double disk assembly with one diskremoved and showing the runner attachment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, with a part broken away, of the runnerseparated from the mounting means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The planter unit in which thepresent invention is embodied is illustrated in FIG. 1 and designated bythe numeral 10. The unit comprises a frame structure 11 to the forwardend of which are connected vertically spaced generally parallel links 12and 13 pivoted to a bracket 14 secured to a tool bar 15 by clampingmeans 16, the tool bar being adapted for mounting on a tractor.

The planter frame supports a seed hopper l7 and seed therein is meteredand discharged to the ground by conventional mechanism designated at 18operated by a suitable drive means such as sprocket and chain mechanismcontained in a housing 19, from a ground drive wheel 20, in well knownmanner. Housing 19 and a link 21 serve to support wheel 20.

The planter frame includes a depending portion 22 upon which is mounteda furrow opener assembly 23 comprising a pair of forwardly convergingearth penetrating disks 24 rotatably mounted on stub axles 25 the axesof which are angled forwardly and outwardly. v

The runner furrow opener 26 of this invention comprises a pair offorwardly converging side plates 27 and has a forward portion 28provided with a cover plate 29, the forward lower edges of side plates27 being inclined at an angle upwardly and having affixed thereto atriangularly shaped base plate 30 the sides of which project laterallybeyond the sides of plates 27 and conform generally to the triangularspace between the forwardly converging disks 24.

The heel portion 31 of the runner receives the lower end of a seed tube32 which extends downwardly from the hopper 17 to guide seed to thefurrow, and the rear edges of the plates 27 are connected by a brace 33.

As the planter is propelled over the ground, soil penetrated by thedisks 24 passes between the forwardly converging edges thereof and issmoothed by base plate 30. The earth thus smoothed is evened by theprovision of a V-shaped earth penetrating member 34 secured between thehorizontal lower edges 35 of side plates 27 rearwardly of base plate 30,member 34 forming a V-shaped furrow for the reception of seed dischargedfrom seed tube 32.

Runner 26 is mounted on planter frame member 22 for lateral swingingmovement about a horizontal axis extending in the direction of travel toallow the runner to center itself between the disks, by the provision ofa bracket 36, forming part of the frame and affixed as by welding to therear edge of member 22 and having an upper rearwardly angled part 37 anda depending leg 38. l

A stationary runner supporting member in the form of a strap 39 has arearwardly angled upper portion 40 engageable with part 37 and havingopenings 41 therein to receive generally longitudinally extendingsecuring means in the form of bolts 42 and registrable with tappedopenings 43 provided in part 37.

The lower portion of supporting member 39 angles rearwardly in the formof a yoke and has a downwardly bent leg portion 44 parallel to leg 38 ofbracket 36. Supporting member 39 carries at its lower end a. forwardlyprojecting generally horizontal pivot member in the form of a pin 45having its rear end received in an opening in leg portion 44 and affixedto the latter by welding.

A block 46 formed between side plates 27 of runner 26 projects upwardlytherefrom and has formed thereon a mating cylindrical bearing member 47having a central bore 48 tapered forwardly from a cylindrical opening 49at its rear end to an elliptical or oval outlet 50 having its long axisdisposed transversely of the direction of travel of'the planter, asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

With runner 26 and its support 39 disassembled from the planter unit,mounting of the runner on the frame between the disks is accomplished bysliding pivot member 45 in opening 48 in bearing 47 and advancing therunner and its support between the diverging rear edges of the disks 24until the free end of pin 45 is received in an opening 51 provided inleg 38, the forward end of the pin being tapered to facilitate itsinsertion in bore 48 and opening 51. Bolts 42 are then threaded intoopenings 43 and secured. To remove the runner the reverse procedure isfollowed, bolts 42 being removed and support 39 with runner 26withdrawn.

By its pivotal mounting on a generally horizontal axis extending in thedirection of travel of the planter, runner 26 is free to swing laterallyand to center itself between the disks 24. Further, the mounting of therunner on the frame includes a vertical pivot axis represented by thecylindrical rear opening 49 in bearing 47, allowing the forward portionof the runnerto swing laterally, within the limits defined by the ovalopening 50 in the forward end of bearing 47, into scraping relation tothe disks with the laterally projecting edges of base plate 30 adaptedto strip away dirt clinging to the inner faces of the disks.

What is claimed is:

1. In a planter having a traveling supporting frame, a pair of laterallyspaced forwardly Converging earth penetrating disks rotatably mounted onthe frame, a self-centering runner disposed between the disks rearwardlyof the axes thereof, and means for mounting said runner on the framebetween said disks for lateral pivoting about a longitudinal horizontalaxis, said mounting means including means for lateral pivoting of saidrunner about a vertical axis.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for mountingsaid runner on the frame comprises a supporting member having means forsecuring its upper end to the frame, a forwardly extending pivot pinaffixed at its rear end to the lower end of the supporting member, andsaid runner having bearing means with a longitudinally elongated openingtherein to slidably receive said pivot pin.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein said opening in saidbearing means is cylindrical at its rear end and diverges forwardly toprovide an elliptical opening accommodating said lateral pivoting of therunner about a vertical axis represented by the rear end of said bearingmeans.

4. In a planter having a traveling supporting frame, a seed tube fordischarging seed to the ground, a pair of laterally spaced forwardlyconverging earth penetrating disks rotatably mounted on the frameforwardly of the seed tube, a self-centering furrow forming runnerdisposed between the disks to groom a path for seed discharged from thetube, and means between the disks for mounting said runner on the framefor free lateral swinging movement thereof comprising, a supportingmember disposed between said disks rearwardly of the axes thereof,relatively stationary horizontal pivot means mounted on said supportingmember and extending longitudinally therefrom, mating pivot means onsaid runner pivotally mounted on said relatively stationary pivot means,and securing means accessible from the rear between the diverging edgesof said disks for removably securing said supporting member to theframe.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4, wherein one of said pivot meansis rotatably received in the other of said pivot means and means forpivoting said runner about a vertical axis.

6. The invention set forth in claim 4, wherein said securing meanscomprises threaded bolt means carried by said supporting member, saidframe having a tapped opening therein to receive said bolt means.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6, wherein said supporting memberhas an upper portion carrying said bolt means and a lower portion spacedrearwardly from said frame, and said relatively stationary pivot meansis affixed to and extends forwardly from said lower portion of saidrelatively stationary pivot means.

8. The invention set forth in claim 4, wherein said relativelystationary pivot means is a pivot pin afiixed at its rear end to saidsupporting member and extending forwardly therefrom and said matingpivot means is a bearing member on said runner having an openingtherethrough to slidably receive said pm.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8, wherein the free end of saidpivot pin projects forwardly from said bearing member, said frame havingan opening therein to receive and support the forward end of said pin.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9, wherein said pivot pin iscylindrical and the opening in said bearing member is cylindrical at itsrear end and tapers forwardly to form an elliptical outlet the long axisof which is transverse to the direction of travel of the planter toaccommodate lateral movement of the forward end of the runner about avertical axis represented by the rear end of said bearing opening.

11. The invention set forth in claim 10, wherein the forward portion ofsaid runner angles upwardly and has affixed thereto a base plate havingforwardly converging side edges and laterally shiftable about saidvertical axis into scraping relation with the inner faces of said disksto prevent the accumulation of dirt thereon.

12. The invention set forth in claim 11, wherein said base plate engagesand smooths dirt passing between the forwardly converging edges of saiddisks, and a V-shaped foot is afiixed to the runner rearwardly of saidbase plate to form a seed receiving furrow in the earth smoothed by saidbase plate.

1. In a planter having a traveling supporting frame, a pair of laterallyspaced forwardly converging earth penetrating disks rotatably mounted onthe frame, a self-centering runner disposed between the disks rearwardlyof the axes thereof, and means for mounting said runner on the framebetween said disks for lateral pivoting about a longitudinal horizontalaxis, said mounting means including means for lateral pivoting of saidrunner about a vertical axis.
 2. The invention set forth in claim 1,wherein the means for mounting said runner on the frame comprises asupporting member having means for securing its upper end to the frame,a forwardly extending pivot pin affixed at its rear end to the lower endof the supporting member, and said runner having bearing means with alongitudinally elongated opening therein to slidably receive said pivotpin.
 3. The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein said opening in saidbearing means is cylindrical at its rear end and diverges forwardly toprovide an elliptical opening accommodating said lateral pivoting of therunner about a vertical axis represented by the rear end of said bearingmeans.
 4. In a planter having a traveling supporting frame, a seed tubefor discharging seed to the ground, a pair of laterally spaced forwardlyconverging earth penetrating disks rotatably mounted on the frameforwardly of the seed tube, a self-centering furrow forming runnerdisposed between the disks to groom a path for seed discharged from thetube, and means between the disks for mounting said runner on the framefor free lateral swinging movement thereof comprising, a supportingmember disposed between said disks rearwardly of the axes thereof,relatively stationary horizontal pivot means mounted on said supportingmember and extending longitudinally therefrom, mating pivot means onsaid runner pivotally mounted on said relatively stationary pivot means,and securing means accessible from the rear between the diverging edgesof said disks for removably securing said supporting member to theframe.
 5. The invention set forth in claim 4, wherein one of said pivotmeans is rotatably received in the other of said pivot means and meansfor pivoting said runner about a vertical axis.
 6. The invention setforth in claim 4, wherein said securing means comprises threaded boltmeans carried by said supporting member, said frame having a tappedopening therein to receive said bolt means.
 7. The invention set forthin claim 6, wherein said supporting member has an upper portion carryingsaid bolt means and a lower portion spaced rearwardly from said frame,and said relatively stationary pivot means is affixed to and extendsforwardly from said lower portion of said relatively stationary pivotmeans.
 8. The invention set forth in claim 4, wherein said relativelystationary pivot means is a pivot pin affixed at its rear end to saidsupporting member and extending forwardly therefrom and said matingpivot means is a bearing member on said runner having an openingtherethrough to slidably receive said pin.
 9. The invention set forth inclaim 8, wherein the free end of said pivot pin projects forwardly fromsaid bearing member, said frame having an opening therein to receive andsupport the forward end of said pin.
 10. The invention set forth inclaim 9, wherein said pivot pin is cylindrical and the opening in saidbearing member is cylindrical at its rear end and tapers forwardly toform an elliptical outlet the long axis of which is transverse to thedirection of travel of the planter to accommodate lateral movement ofthe forward end of the runner about a vertical axis represented by therear end of said bearing opening.
 11. The invention set forth in claim10, wherein the forward portion of said runner angles upwardly and hasaffixed thereto a base plate having forwardly converging side edges andlaterally shiftable about said vertical axis into scraping relation withthe inner faces of said disks to prevent the accumulation of dirtthereon.
 12. The invention set forth in claim 11, wherein said baseplate engages and smooths dirt passing between the forwardly convergingedges of said disks, and a V-shaped foot is affixed to the runnerrearwardly of said base plate to form a seed receiving furrow in theearth smoothed by said base plate.